Dec. 24, 2004 – What a year it has been for golfer Grace Park; easily the most exciting year of her young career with the promise of greater things to come.

The LPGA Tour's "Best Dressed" according to a fan vote was also the Vare Trophy winner for the lowest scoring average in 2004. Park's rare combination of style and skill has earned her the attention of fashion editors and golf writers, alike.

Park kicked off the 2004 season right by capturing the first Major of her career. She won the Kraft Nabisco in dramatic style, sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win by a stroke.

Throughout the year Park carried Nike Golf's 410cc Ignite driver. In July she switched from Nike Golf's TA2-Long golf ball to the newer and longer Nike One Black. She wrapped up the year ranked fourth in Driving Distance, averaging over 267 yards, less than three average yards off the LPGA lead. Her longest drive of the year was a whopping 330 yards.

Late in the season Park had some time in her schedule to work with Nike Golf's club team to test some new irons from the fledgling club company, as well as spend quality time hitting the Tour-proven Forged Pro Combo Irons and Slingshot Irons. When she stepped on the Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club course in October for the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship, Park was carrying eight new clubs from Nike Golf. The NDS Irons in her bag - NDS for Nike Distance Series - were not what Nike Golf's club team members expected Park to play but the mission was to get her into a set of irons that could improve her already near-flawless play. With finishes of 2nd, 2nd, 1st and 2nd in as many events beginning with the Asahi, it was obviously a mission accomplished.

The late-season streak and 12 Top 3 finishes helped Park earn her first Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average of the season. Her 69.99 average was enough to edge Lorena Ochoa by .03. The award was a fitting reminder of the consistent play she demonstrated in 2004, particularly from the fairway.

The fan poll late in September that named Park the LPGA Tour's "Best Dressed" was a nod to her impeccable sense of style and Nike Golf's ability to bring a beautiful look to very technical apparel. She received nearly half of the votes and more than doubled the number of votes the second place finisher received. Park is clearly the hands-down fashion favorite on the LPGA Tour.

Park finished 2004 second in earnings at $1,525,471 and on a tear that should see her reach her goal of No. 1 in the world that she's carried throughout her life.

Source: Nike Golf